Walking beam



J. D. M EWEN WALKING BEAM July 12, 1932.

Filed Sept. 22, 1928 NVENTOR m al-k WITNESSES Patented July 12, 1932UNITED STATES JOHN D. MCEWEN, or PITTSBURGH, PENNsYtvANIA, AssIGNoR- oLEE 0. Moons a COMPANY, INC., or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,'A'CORPORA'IION or PENNSYL- vANIA WALKING BEAM Application filedSeptember 22, 1928. Serial No; 307,567.

he invention relates to walking beams for oil well rigs.

The objects of the invention are to simplify the structure of walkingbeams, to provide a simple steel beam structure, to reduce thereinforcing thereof to a minimum, and to provide a connection at thedriving end of the beam for a vertically reciprocable,

the end of the beam moves up and down in o well known see-saw motionthereof, it swings in an are which extends above and below thehorizontal position of the walking beam. There is more lateral motion ofa point at the top of the end of the beam than to an 6 opposite point atthe bottom, since the beam is axially supported substantially at itsmiddle point upon a pivotal member positioned beneath the beam. Thepresent construction permits the bearing for the pump rod, drill rod, orthe like, to be attached in approximately the level of the beam axiswhen the beam is in its horizontal or mid-stroke position. Consequentlythis arrangement gives a minimum lateral movement to the 55 drivenmember during the working stroke of the beam, which is during the upwardmovement of the driving end.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of awalking beam and its post; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section on theline 11-41 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an elevation of one end of the beam.

The walking beam comprising the present arrangement consists of astraight section of a steel H or I-beam B, having a web 1, an upperflange 2, and a lower flange 3. This beam is reinforced by a pluralityof angle bars cut to a length equal to the distance between the flanges2 and 3, and having one leg 4 of a width approximately equal to the PTENT} omen: i

depth of such flanges. The, angle bars are A positioned with the leg 4,perpendicular to the web of the beam and bearing thereagainst. The endsof the bar bear against the inner faces of the flanges 52 and 3,the;other' leg 5 of the angle bar beingsubstantially par- 'allel to theouter edges of the flanges and extending approximately, thereto. Theendsof both legsof the angle bar and the inner edge of one legareelectrically welded to the beam, 'sothat the latter is materiallyreinforced thereby. V

Atthe driven end, the andthe web end reinforced by two-or more anglebars? and 8.] A bearing bl0ck 10 is bolted on theupper face of the;beam,.hav-

ing a groove; for receivinga loop 11 015a connecting rod 12,-"a's willbe readilyiunderstoodby those familiar with the art.; A looking block'13 is adapted to enclose, theupper ing ofi the beam. It will beunderstood that power is applied to rock the beam'through the rodl2. lj- Atthe other ordriving end of the beam a terminal bearing memberisattached, preferably by welding directly to the end of the beam., ZThismember comprises an upperbeam is under-cut,

saddle block 30, seating upon on axle 31, car- I ried bybrackets32,'tfastened to post 33. The axle 31; comprises the] axis ofthebeam in its operative movements. The object of the arrangement forsupporting the temper screw is to bring that support as nearly aspossible to the horizontal plane ofthe axis 31, when the beam isinhorizontal position.

Aswill be understood by those familiar with the artthe beam is driventhrough the rod 12 in a see-saw motion, raising and lowering the otherend thereof,and consequently 702 i part of the loop 11 and to;prevent,its'jumpdriving the link member 24, to which may be attached the rope ofa drill, a pump rod, or the like.

By positioning the supporting portion 23 of the bearing member 20approximately in the level of the'lower face of the beam, or below it, aminimum amount of" lateral or hori zontal movement of the bearing end ofthe loop '24] results. This, brings the temper e 10 screw support intothe level of the axial sup- 1 port of the beam at mid-stroke, orhorizontal beam position. This reduction of lateral movement isimportant, since it relieves'the scraping of the drill rope against thesides 3 of the well casing, or in the case of a pump rod, minimizes thechange of angularity of the rod in its packing.

The use of a straight H-beam, rolled'in asingle piece,-is madepracticable by reinforcing the web and flanges as indicated, and

the welded angle. irons give maximum reinforcement with minimum weightand low cost in construction.- 1

1. A Walking beam assembly for oil Well rigs'comprising an H-beamsection having a fulcrum pivot secured to its vunder side substantiallymidwayibetween itstwo' ends, a work element engaging-bearing mounted onone end of the beam on the upper side thereof and another-at theotherend on the lower side thereof, said latter bearing element beingrigidly secured to the end of the beam with'its bearing surface disposedbelow the 337 lower edge of the beam in axial alignment with the-centerof said fulcrum pivot and provided with'a releasable clamp for holdinga-work element on its bearing surface. 1

2. A Walking beam assembly for: oil well rigs comprisingan H-beamsection having a fulcrumpivotsecured to its under sidebe- V tweenits twoends, a bearing plate mounted on its top side atone end thereof and asub stantially J-shaped bearing element rigidly 5 secured-t0 the otherendwith its bearing surface in axial alignment with the center of saidfulcrum pivot, said latter element having a shoulder at its upper endanda pair of spaced lugs near its lower end on the rear side thereofadapted respectivelyto seat on'the upper flange of the beam and straddlethe lower flange whereby facilitating and strengthening theattachmentofsaid element to the In testimony whereof, I'sign my name. 7

JOHN'D.M0EWEN.

